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Work being done by ArvinMeritor, IAV (Ingenieursgesellshaft für Auto und Verkehr) and MIT on enhancing gasoline combustion with a small hydrogen gas stream is pointing toward a potential estimated improvement in gasoline fuel economy of 20% to 30%, depending upon the baseline engine. Writing in the October issue of MTZ (Motortechnische Zeitschrift), Utz-Jens Beister from IAV and Rudy Smaling from ArvinMeritor describe their progress with the Hydrogen-Enhanced Combustion Engine (HECE) concept, as applied to an SUV-class 3.2-liter V6 test engine. -- The premise of HECE, on which the research collaborative has been working for a number of years, is that the addition of a small amount of hydrogen to the cylinder charge can allow homogeneous charge ultra-lean-burn combustion engines to operate much leaner than otherwise possible. My Thoughts: There are numerous people on the internet trying to sell small electrolyzers to accomplish this same effect on board your car as well as commercial companies trying to do it for big trucks. An electrolyzer is far less expensive and complex to build and you could even do it yourself. However I have yet to see one that produces enough hydrogen to do the job. From my own research I know I could increse the hydrogen output of these electrolyzers by roughly 600% and that might be enough to actually do this, but no one is asking for my help...lol
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